Sarah Polley
Birth Name:
Sarah E. Polley
Birth Place:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Profession
Actress, Writer, Director, Producer, Music department, Soundtrack, Camera department
Fast Facts
- Is the first woman to win the Genie Award for Best Direction
- Received the Canada's Governor General's National Arts Centre Award in 2013
- Was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2013
- Was inducted into the Canada Walk of Fame in 2010
- Received an honorary doctorate degree from Trent University
- Born to former actress Diane Polley
- Began her acting career at the age of four
- Quote: "I think young girls are done a disservice when they are read fairy tales and given the fantasy of happily ever after․ We're always told about the beginning and the end of a relationship, but what about the middle?"
- Quote: "Telling stories is our way of coping, a way of creating shape out of a mess․ It binds everyone together․"
Awards
- 1990Gemini - Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Continuing Dramatic Role:Nominated
- 1990Young Artist Award - Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1991Young Artist Award - Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series:Nominated
- 1992Gemini - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:Winner
- 1993Gemini - Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role:Nominated
- 1993Young Artist Award - Best Young Actress Starring in a Cable Series:Nominated
- 1994Gemini - Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role:Nominated
- 1997BSFC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
- 1997Genie - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:Nominated
- 1997Genie - Best Original Song:Nominated
- 1997NBR Award - Best Acting by an Ensemble:Winner
- 1998CFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 1998CFCA Award - Most Promising Actress:Nominated
- 1998Chlotrudis Award - Best Actress:Nominated
- 1998Gemini - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series:Nominated
- 1998NSFC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 1998TFCA Award - Best Performance, Female:Nominated
- 1999Teen Choice Award - Film - Breakout Performance:Nominated
- 2000Canadian Comedy Award - Film - Performance - Female:Winner
- 2000Chlotrudis Award - Best Actress:Nominated
- 2000Independent Spirit Award - Best Supporting Female:Nominated
- 2002Chlotrudis Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2002Genie - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:Nominated
- 2004Chlotrudis Award - Best Actress:Winner
- 2004Genie - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:Winner
- 2004Goya - Best Lead Actress (Mejor Actriz Protagonista):Nominated
- 2004VFCC Award - Best Actress - Canadian Film:Winner
- 2005Chainsaw Award - Best Actress:Nominated
- 2006Barcelona Film Award - Best Actress (Millor Actriu):Nominated
- 2006CEC Award - Best Actress (Mejor Actriz):Nominated
- 2006Best Canadian First FeatureWinner
- 2006European Film Award - European Actress:Nominated
- 2007EDA Female Focus Award - Best Woman Screenwriter:Nominated
- 2007EDA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2007EDA Award - Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2007EDA Special Mention Award - Best Leap from Actress to Director:Winner
- 2007EDA Female Focus Award - Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in the Film Industry:Nominated
- 2007EDA Female Focus Award - Women's Image Award:Winner
- 2007EDA Female Focus Award - Best Woman Director:Winner
- 2007CFCA Award - Most Promising Filmmaker:Nominated
- 2007DFCS Award - Best Newcomer:Nominated
- 2007DGC Team Award - Feature Film:Winner
- 2007DGC Craft Award - Direction - Feature Film:Winner
- 2007Film and Literature AwardNominated
- 2007Gemini - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series:Nominated
- 2007ICP Award - Best First Feature:Winner
- 2007New Generation AwardWinner
- 2007NYFCC Award - Best First Film:Winner
- 2007NYFCO Award - Best Debut as Director:Winner
- 2007PFCS Award - Breakthrough Behind the Camera:Winner
- 2007Audience AwardWinner
- 2007SFFCC Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2007Audience Award - Best in World Cinema:Winner
- 2007Satellite Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Nominated
- 2007Satellite Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2007Excellence in FilmmakingWinner
- 2007International Jury Award - Best Feature Film:Nominated
- 2007International New Talent Competition - Grand PrizeNominated
- 2007Holden Award for Best Script - Special MentionWinner
- 2007Prize of the City of Torino - Best Feature Film:Nominated
- 2007TFCA Award - Best First Feature:Winner
- 2007Golden Spike - Best Film:Nominated
- 2007WFCC Award - Best Movie by a Woman:Winner
- 2007WGC Award - Feature Film:Winner
- 2008Oscar - Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2008COFCA Award - Breakthrough Film Artist:Winner
- 2008Chlotrudis Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2008Chlotrudis Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2008Chlotrudis Award - Best Actress:Nominated
- 2008Claude Jutra AwardWinner
- 2008Genie - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Winner
- 2008Genie - Best Achievement in Direction:Winner
- 2008Gold Derby Film Award - Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2008OFTA Film Award - Best First Feature:Winner
- 2008OFTA Film Award - Best First Screenplay:Nominated
- 2008OFCS Award - Best Breakthrough Filmmaker:Winner
- 2008Satellite Award - Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:Nominated
- 2009Robert - Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film):Nominated
- 2011Chainsaw Award - Best Actress:Nominated
- 2011Golden Seashell - Best Film:Nominated
- 2012Black Pearl Award - Best Documentary Feature:Nominated
- 2012Documentary Film Competition - Special Jury Award:Winner
- 2012Politiken's Audience AwardNominated
- 2012DFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2012DFCS Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012DGC Craft Award - Direction - Feature Film:Nominated
- 2012Grand Prix Focus - Feature Film:Winner
- 2012Art Cinema AwardNominated
- 2012SDFCS Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
- 2012Rogers Award - Best Canadian Film:Winner
- 2012Fedeora Award - Best Film (Venice Days):Nominated
- 2013EDA Award - Best Documentary Feature Film:Winner
- 2013EDA Female Focus Award - Best Woman Screenwriter:Nominated
- 2013EDA Female Focus Award - Best Woman Screenwriter:Nominated
- 2013EDA Female Focus Award - Best Woman Director:Nominated
- 2013EDA Female Focus Award - Best Woman Director:Nominated
- 2013Best DocumentaryWinner
- 2013Canadian Screen Award - Best Feature Length Documentary:Winner
- 2013Chlotrudis Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2013Chlotrudis Award - Best Original Screenplay:Winner
- 2013DGC Team Award - Allan King Award For Excellence in Documentary:Winner
- 2013IDA Award - Best Feature:Nominated
- 2013Halfway Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2013LAFCA Award - Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film:Winner
- 2013Festival Prize - Best Film:Nominated
- 2013Golden Space Needle Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2013Sydney Film Prize - Best Film:Nominated
- 2013VFCC Award - Best Director - Canadian Film:Nominated
- 2013VFCC Award - Best Screenplay - Canadian Film:Nominated
- 2013Robert and Frances Flaherty PrizeNominated
- 2014Chlotrudis Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2014CinEuphoria - Best Documentary - International Competition:Winner
- 2014Cinema Eye Audience Choice PrizeNominated
- 2014Cinema Eye Honors Award - Outstanding Achievement in Direction:Winner
- 2014Cinema Eye Honors Award - Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking:Nominated
- 2014DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary:Nominated
- 2014Gold Derby Film Award - Documentary Feature:Nominated
- 2014INOCA - Best Documentary:Winner
- 2014Seattle Film Critics Award - Best Documentary:Nominated
- 2014WGA Award (Screen) - Best Documentary Screenplay:Winner
- 2014Youth Jury - Special Mention:Winner
- 2014Big Stamp - International Competition:Nominated
- 2018Canadian Screen Award - Best Limited Series or Program:Winner
- 2018Canadian Screen Award - Best Writing, Drama Program or Limited Series:Winner
- 2018Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Series - Longform:Nominated
- 2018USC Scripter Award - Television:Nominated
- 2022BSFC Award - Best Ensemble Cast:Winner
- 2022CFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022CFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2022DFWFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022FFCC Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2022Gotham Independent Film Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2022GWNYFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2022IFJA Best Special Presentation AwardWinner
- 2022IFJA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022IFJA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2022ICP Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2022Sierra Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2022Audience Award - Mind the Gap:Winner
- 2022OAFFC Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2022OAFFC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022Kanbar Award for StorytellingWinner
- 2022SEFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2022SLFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2022SLFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2022SFC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022SFC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2022People's Choice Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2022UFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2022WAFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2022WAFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022WFCC Award - Best Movie by a Woman:Winner
- 2022WFCC Award - Best Woman Storyteller:Winner
- 2023Oscar - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023EDA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023EDA Female Focus Award - Best Woman Director:Nominated
- 2023EDA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2023EDA Female Focus Award - Best Woman Screenwriter:Winner
- 2023AFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023Windie - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023Windie - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023Chlotrudis Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023Chlotrudis Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023Cinema for Peace Award - Cinema for Peace Dove for Women's Empowerment:Nominated
- 2023COFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023COFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023Critics Choice Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023Critics Choice Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023DFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023DFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023Outstanding Directorial Achievement - Feature Film:Winner
- 2023DFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023Dorian Award - Screenplay of the Year:Nominated
- 2023Dorian Award - Director of the Year:Nominated
- 2023Independent Spirit Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023Robert Altman AwardWinner
- 2023Independent Spirit Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023GAFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023Gold Derby Film Award - Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023Golden Globe - Best Screenplay - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2023HFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023HCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023HCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023HFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023HFCS Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023ICFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023ICFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023ICS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023KCFCC Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023LEJA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023LEJA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023MNFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023MNFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023MCFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023NCFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023OFTA Film Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023OFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023Director of the Year AwardWinner
- 2023SDFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023SFBAFCC Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2023SFBAFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023Satellite Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023Satellite Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Winner
- 2023Septimius Award - Best American Film:Nominated
- 2023TFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023TFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023Aurora AwardWinner
- 2023Faith in Film AwardWinner
- 2023USC Scripter Award - Film:Winner
- 2023VFCC Award - Best Director in a Canadian Film:Nominated
- 2023WGA Award (Screen) - Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2025Astra TV Award - Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series:Nominated
- 2025Best ScreenplayWinner
- 2025OFTA Television Award - Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series:Nominated